Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-22
A CRIMINAL JUDGE.
Craig Tolliver's Red.Handed Rule In
Rowan County, Ky.-Only Twenty
Votes We're Cast for Him,
But He Was Elected Because No One
Dared Vote Against Him-Mannin
and tho Logan Boys.


years and yesrs. Warrants have beer
served against him, indictments founC
against him, posses have searched foI
him, and g whole company of soldier!
went after him aud proclaimed MARTA
law in sll of Rowan county. But they
did not get their man. Cunning, reck
less, dare devil, he fought them from
ambush, hid away in the mountain
Businesses when the country grew toe
hot for him, aud when matters quoted
down again he came forth cool and IN
harmed, and went at his old tricks. OF
course feud was a. The bottom of it,
John Martin killed b /, Tolllver, Craig's
brother, and so, Of course, the natural
result was that the Tolliver family and
their friends set out to xiii the surviving
members of the Martin family and their
friends. Craig shot few men, and the
Wl0le county took sides.
Troops were ordered to MOrehead, the
county seat of Rowan county, to quell
the disturbances that had been caused
there by two faCtions-one under the
leadership of Craig Tolliver, and the
other marshalled by Cook HUMPHREYS,
who was looked upon as being every bit
as dangerous as Tolliver, and possessing
even more courage. After long trip in
the mountains by the State Guard, peace
WAS finally restored by an armistice on
the part OF the commonwealth, whose
attorney agreed to withdraw prosecution
N condition that the two
-eaders should leave the state.
The principals readily agreed to this and
II was thought that the disorders which
had brought the state into such bad re-
pute mad come to an end and the troops
were ordered Withdrawn. Scarcely had
peace been restored when information
was received that Tolliver was back to his
old haunts.
But he came back in a new character.
Tired of being hunted like dog, he con-
ceived the brilliant idea of hunting in-
stead Of being hunted. He thought the
matter over IN his own rude way aud
figured things out about ike this: The
only thing he had ever been
forced TO fear YVES that intangible
something men called the law.
WHAT was the law? he asked. The Judge
on the bench was 1.-THE only personal eX-
ponent of it that he knew. SO his MUD
was made up. He would become the law
He would make himself Judge. His
friends would vote for him. Where WAS
the mSn brave enough to ride up to the
polls and deposit ballot against him?
And so Craig ToIliver, murderer and
desperate, criminal hiding from Justice,
was elected q Judge of Rowan county.
Nc further need had he to fee from |
Justice. lie was Justice himself now |
The man whose outbreaks had brought |
shame and disgrace to the tair soil of |
that section mad turned the tables, and |
with a high nsnd prepared to turn prose |
cutor instead of being prosecuted. 1t
was s dazzling stroke Of genius.
The great opportunity Of his life was
right al hand aHG he prepared u pay
of Old scores, and ray them off ia the
name Of The law There are many in
dic.mants against Tolliver for serious
crimes: yet so terrified are the people
that they allow a criminal TO hold Of
flee Snd exercise the rights Of that
office. Since the election Of TOlliver TO
the office of police Judge three good citi-
zens have been compelled TO fee from
Morehe8d. Their lives, their fortunes,
homes, sons, daughters and wives were
in danger In the reports Of the eIec-
ions Tolliver received twenty votes,
electing him People who were
against him were afraid to 60 to the
polls, and a man who cannot sign his
name leglbly is elected to an Office which
REQUIRES knowledge Of the law, equity OF
and Justice IN all things.
Immediately after taking possession OF
his office he began the persecution OF his
enemies Yesterday afternoon he issued
warrants for the arrest of Wlllism Lo-
gan, twenty -four years old, and his
brother John, eighteen, charged with
1ukluX plans. Warrants were placed in
The hands OF Marshal Mannin to serve.
4 bout ; O'Clock Mannin and TOlliver and
Z posse went to the Logan house to serve
the warrants on the two boys. Upon ar
rival at the Logan homestead Marshal
Nsnnin aske, f the boys wer- at home.
pae houseketgcr answered no. but Man
Dill knowing 10 the contrary, forced his
Nav into the house and upstairs.
Immediately the Logan boys, who were
seCreted upstairs, opened fire upon Man
hin, Kidding him with slugs from shot
Guns and killing him instantly. The two
COWS then attempted to make their escape
Jv getting out by the back way Of the
house, but the two men who accompanied
Nanrin were stationed in the rear, and as
soon IS the two boys made their appear
auCe the posse opened tire upon tnems
y nen the smoke cleared away it ws9seen Il
that the Logan boys lay desd-kihed atfs
the first shot. The two men who forme99r
tie posse returned to Morehead, geYs1
themselves up and gave the facts as stat
ed. The Logan boys were buried this
afternoon st the Old burying grounds
about five miles north of the town Of
Moreh6 sd.
DR.. II. 5. Logan, the father of the two
dead boys, is confined IN the Lexington
ISL Tor safe keeping on charge OF con-
spring TO kill Taylor Young and Judge
a. {. Cole. of the Circuit court OF Rowan
county. Dr. Logan, when seen, said that
he object was to arrest the boys so that
hey could be placed in the hands OF
craig Tolliver, who is police Judge, SO
hat Tollfver could wreek his revenge on
hem. Howard Logan, an uncle OF these
BOWS, was one of the parties who was
orced 10 fee from Morehesd few days
100 and seek a place Of safety. Thai
whole section of the state IS wild over
affair, and the end is not yet.
Craig Tolliver is bout fifty. yesrs {
lid, and has been desperate character {
or thirty years. He revels in bloodshed $
IN 1884. 81 the August election, the Mar I